Detection of faulty radio oscillator or faulty mobile timing measurements

ABSTRACT

Detection of a faulty radio oscillator is provided herein. Also provided herein is detection of faulty mobile timing measurements. Timing measurements, as observed by a mobile device, and an identification of primary scrambling codes associated with the timing measurements are captured. The primary scrambling codes match each timing measurement with a particular radio. The mobile device can also report its location information. Radios for which timing measurements have been received are paired. Based on the paired radios and an associated observed time delay derived from the timing measurements, comparisons can be made between paired radios having at least one common radio. Radios exhibiting an expected timing value can be removed from the analysis in order to isolate a radio that has a faulty radio oscillator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to each of,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/616,596, filed 6 Feb. 2015, nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,191,849, entitled “DETECTION OF FAULTY RADIOOSCILLATOR OR FAULTY MOBILE TIMING MEASUREMENTS”, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/537,690, filed 29Jun. 2012, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,989,730, entitled “DETECTION OFFAULTY RADIO OSCILLATOR OR FAULTY MOBILE TIMING MEASUREMENTS.” Theentireties of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates to wireless communications and, moreparticularly, to faulty radio oscillator detection or faulty mobiletiming measurement detection.

BACKGROUND

Wide adoption of mobile devices along with ubiquitous cellular datacoverage has resulted in an explosive growth of mobile applications thatexpect always-accessible wireless networking. This explosion has placedstrains on resources that are scarce in the mobile world. On the userside, dropped calls have been blamed for user dissatisfaction. On thenetwork side, instances of dropped calls can occur due to a faulty radiooscillator and/or due to faulty mobile timing measurements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various non-limiting embodiments are further described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example, non-limiting wireless communicationsenvironment in which the disclosed aspects can be utilized, according toan aspect;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example, non-limiting system configured to detectradio oscillator instability, according to an aspect;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example, non-limiting system configured toevaluate various sectors and determine whether one or more sectors has afaulty radio oscillator, according to an aspect;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example, non-limiting system for detecting afaulty radio oscillator while compensating for data reportederroneously, according to an aspect;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example, non-liming system configured to obtaininformation from multiple mobile device types, wherein the informationis utilized to detect a faulty mobile timing measurement, according toan aspect;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example, non-limiting system that employs anartificial intelligence component, which facilitates automating one ormore features in accordance with the disclosed aspects;

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for detection of radio oscillatorinstability, according to an aspect;

FIG. 8 illustrates another example, non-limiting method for isolating afaulty radio oscillator, according to an aspect;

FIG. 9 illustrates another example, non-limiting method for detecting aradio that has a faulty oscillator, according to an aspect;

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic example wireless environment that canoperate in accordance with aspects described herein;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of access equipment and/or softwarerelated to access of a network, in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of a computing system, in accordancewith an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the subject disclosure will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exampleembodiments are shown. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the various embodiments. However, thesubject disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein.

An aspect relates to a system comprising at least one memory that storescomputer-executable instructions and at least one processor,communicatively coupled to the at least one memory. The at least oneprocessor can facilitate execution of the computer-executableinstructions to at least obtain, from a first mobile device, a first setof timing measurements for a first set of radios and a first location ofthe first mobile device. The processor can also facilitate execution ofthe computer-executable instructions to obtain, from a second mobiledevice, a second set of timing measurements for a second set of radiosand a second location of the second mobile device. The processor canalso facilitate execution of the computer-executable instructions todetermine radio pairs from the first set of timing measurements and thesecond set of timing measurements. Further, the processor can alsofacilitate execution of the computer-executable instructions to evaluatea subset of the radio pairs from the determined radio pairs relative toother radio pairs having a common radio in order to isolate a radiohaving a faulty radio oscillator based on respective timing measurementsand respective locations of radios of the subset of the radio pairs.

In an example, the at least one processor can further facilitate theexecution of the computer-executable instructions to determine that atleast one radio from the subset of radio pairs comprises an expectedtiming measurement within a tolerance. The processor can also facilitatethe execution of the computer-executable instructions to eliminate theat least one radio as having the faulty radio oscillator.

In another example, the at least one processor can facilitate theexecution of the computer-executable instructions to compute observedtime difference values for the subset of the radio pairs and determinepropagation delay values based on the respective locations. Further tothis example, the at least one processor can further facilitate theexecution of the computer-executable instructions to remove the observedtime difference values and the propagation delay values from therespective timing measurements to obtain real time delays. The at leastone processor can also facilitate the execution of thecomputer-executable instructions to identify the radio with a real timedelay that is different than an expected real time delay value within atolerance as the radio with the faulty radio oscillator.

The at least one processor, according to another example, can furtherfacilitate the execution of the computer-executable instructions tooutput a report that identifies the radio having the faulty radiooscillator. In another example, the at least one processor canfacilitate the execution of the computer-executable instructions toassociate each timing measurement in the first set of timingmeasurements and the second set of timing measurements with respectiveprimary scrambling codes.

In another example, the at least one processor can facilitate theexecution of the computer-executable instructions to determine a firsttype of the first mobile device and a second type of the second mobiledevice. Further to this example, the processor can facilitate theexecution of the computer-executable instructions to evaluate the subsetof the radio pairs based on the first type being different from thesecond type.

The at least one processor, according to another example, can facilitatethe execution of the computer-executable instructions to identify afirst fixed reference based on the first location and a second fixedreference based on the second location. Further to this example, the atleast one processor can also facilitate the execution ofcomputer-executable instructions to store the first set of timingmeasurements with the first fixed reference and the second set of timingmeasurements with the second fixed reference as historical data.

The at least one processor, in accordance with another example, canfacilitate the execution of the computer-executable instructions todetermine that one or more timing measurements from the first set oftiming measurements are outliers based on a comparison with timingmeasurements from the second set of timing measurements. The at leastone processor can also facilitate the execution of thecomputer-executable instructions to remove the outliers from evaluationto isolate the radio having the faulty radio oscillator.

According to another example, the at least one processor can facilitatethe execution of the computer-executable instructions to receive thefirst set of timing measurements and the second set of timingmeasurements in respective radio resource measurement reports andreceive the first location and the second location information inrespective radio access network application protocol location reports.

The at least one processor, in an example, can further facilitate theexecution of the computer-executable instructions to receive the firstset of timing measurements and the second set of timing measurements asrespective reference signal time difference values.

In another example embodiment, an aspect relates to a system comprisingat least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions and atleast one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one memory.The at least one processor can facilitate execution of thecomputer-executable instructions to at least obtain, from a first mobiledevice, a first set of timing measurements for a first set of radios anda first location of the first mobile device. The processor can alsofacilitate execution of the computer-executable instructions to obtain,from a second mobile device, a second set of timing measurements for asecond set of radios and a second location of the second mobile device.The processor can also facilitate execution of the computer-executableinstructions to determine radio pairs from the first set of timingmeasurements and the second set of timing measurements. Further, theprocessor can also facilitate execution of the computer-executableinstructions to evaluate a subset of the radio pairs from the determinedradio pairs relative to other radio pairs having a common radio in orderto isolate a radio having a faulty radio oscillator based on respectivetiming measurements and respective locations of radios of the subset ofthe radio pairs.

Another embodiment relates to a method that can include receiving, by asystem comprising at least one processor, a first set of reports for afirst mobile device and a second set of reports for a second mobiledevice. The method can also include analyzing, by the system, observedtime differences between radio pairs identified from the first set ofreports and radio pairs identified from the second set of reportsincluding comparing the observed time differences. Further, the methodcan include determining, by the system, a radio has a faulty oscillatorbased in part on the analyzing.

Another embodiment relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium storing computer-executable instructions that, in response toexecution, cause a system including a processor to perform operations.The operations can include storing a first set of observed timedifference measurements received from a first user device and associatedwith a reported location of the first user device, a second set ofobserved time difference measurements received from a second user deviceand associated with a reported location of the second user device, and athird set of observed time difference measurements received from a thirduser device and associated with a reported location of the third userdevice. The operations can also include comparing pairs of sectorsidentified in the first, second, and third set of observed timedifference measurements. The pairs of sectors have at least one commonsector. The operations can also include detecting a faulty radiooscillator for at least one of the sectors of the pairs of sectors basedin part on the comparing.

It is noted that although various aspects and embodiments are discussedherein with respect to Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS), the subject disclosure is not limited to a UMTS implementation.For example, aspects or features of the disclosed embodiments can beexploited in substantially any wireless communication technology. Suchwireless communication technologies can include Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wi-Fi, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced GPRS, Third Generation PartnershipProject (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), Third Generation PartnershipProject 2 (3GPP2) Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), High Speed Packet Access(HSPA), Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), High-Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Zigbee,or another IEEE 802.XX technology. Additionally, substantially allaspects disclosed herein can be exploited in legacy telecommunicationtechnologies.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, illustrated is an example, non-limitingwireless communications environment 100 in which the disclosed aspectscan be utilized, according to an embodiment. A wireless communicationsenvironment 100 can comprise any number of sectors (or cells). Theillustrated wireless communications environment 100 includes a firstsector 102, a second sector 104, a third sector 106, and a fourth sector108, although more (or fewer) than four sectors can be utilized in awireless communications environment. Each sector has a respectivegeographic area or coverage area. For example, first sector 102 has afirst coverage area 110, second sector 104 has a second coverage area112, third sector 106 has a third coverage area 114, and fourth sector108 has a fourth coverage area 116.

Also illustrated are two mobile devices, labeled as a first mobiledevice 118 and a second mobile device 120, although more than two mobiledevices can be operated within the wireless communications environment100. As utilized herein, a mobile device can include a UMTS-basedelectronic device, such as, but not limited to, a cell phone, a PDA(personal digital assistant), a media player, a digital camera, a mediarecorder, a laptop, a personal computer, a printer, a scanner, a tablet,a GPS (global positioning system) module, a gaming module, and so forth.Further, the device can also include UMTS-based appliances that can beemployed, for example, in a home, office, building, retail store,restaurant, hotel, factory, warehouse, and so on. As previously noted,although the various aspects are discussed herein with reference toUMTS, the aspects are not limited to an UMTS implementation. Instead,the various aspects can be utilized with other network technologies andUMTS technology is utilized herein for purposes of simplicity.

As the first mobile device 118 and the second mobile device 120 aremoved within the wireless communications environment 100 and/or aremoved into or out of the coverage area(s) of the wireless communicationsenvironment 100, one or more handoffs may occur. A handoff (alsoreferred to as a handover) is a process of transferring an ongoing callor an ongoing data session between base stations (e.g., sectors) so asto mitigate communication coverage disruptions. For example, as secondmobile device 120 is moved from third coverage area 114 to fourthcoverage area 116, a seamless handoff can occur from third sector 106 tofourth sector 108.

In the case of a UMTS network, for example, the handoff can be a softhandoff. During a soft handoff, the mobile device (e.g., second mobiledevice 120) is connected to two or more sectors (e.g., third sector 106and fourth sector 108) at substantially the same time as thecommunication is occurring. To facilitate the soft handover, the mobiledevice can perform and report power measurements of the neighboringsectors to determine whether a handover should be requested.

Some problems that can develop during soft handover are related to afaulty radio oscillator. Radio oscillators should maintain oscillatorstability within a defined tolerance. When an oscillator falls outsidethe defined tolerance, a mobile device can experience increaseddifficulty during soft handover operations. Soft handover failures canbe mitigated with the disclosed aspects by detection of radio oscillatorinstability through observations against multiple radio base stations(e.g., sectors). For example, mobile devices can measure observed timedifferences between Node B's during event-based handover areas and atother times (e.g., periodically as defined within the 3G Radio AccessNetwork). These measurements, when observed over time, and throughmultiple NodeB relationships can be utilized to reveal radio oscillatorinstability, as disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example, non-limiting system 200 configured todetect radio oscillator instability, according to an aspect. Benefits ofthe disclosed aspects include operational support of defective radiooscillators and/or improved radio access performance through successfulsoft handover operations and decreased drop call rates. For example, asingle radio can share numerous radio neighbor relations and, if theradio is defective, the defective radio can wreak havoc throughout itsdesignated coverage area and coverage overlap area. The disclosedaspects can mitigate the damage that can be caused by defective radios(e.g., radio oscillators) by detecting and reporting the occurrence of afaulty radio oscillator without the need to replace the entire radio inorder to diagnose the fault.

For example, a method of faulty radio oscillator detection includesobserving indirect performance matrixes, such as noting issues withhandover between a particular site and/or problems trying to access asite. Detection of a faulty radio oscillator would be performed based ontrial and error. For example, if a problem is occurring, the entireradio might be removed and replaced. Later, after performance of variousfailure analysis tests (e.g., at the manufacturer's facility), it mightbe determined that the oscillator is not stable. However, such failureanalysis testing occurs after the entire radio is replaced and aftercostly and time consuming analysis is performed. Further, after theentire radio is replaced, it might be determined that the oscillator isperforming correctly and that the problem was elsewhere on the networkand/or mobile device(s).

System 200 can be implemented in a network (e.g., base station, accesspoint, sector, NodeB, and so forth). As previously noted, although thevarious aspects are discussed herein with reference to UMTS, thedisclosed aspects are not limited to an UMTS implementation. Instead,the various aspects can be utilized with other network technologies andUMTS technology is utilized herein for purposes of simplicity whileexplaining the various aspects.

System 200 can include at least one memory 202 that can store computerexecutable components and computer executable instructions. System 200can also include at least one processor 204, communicatively coupled tothe at least one memory 202. Coupling can include various communicationsincluding, but not limited to, direct communications, indirectcommunications, wired communications, and/or wireless communications.The at least one processor 204 can facilitate execution of the computerexecutable components and instructions stored in the memory 202. It isnoted that although one or more computer executable components may bedescribed herein and illustrated as components separate from memory 202(e.g., operatively connected to memory), in accordance with variousembodiments, the one or more computer executable components could bestored in the memory 202. Further, while various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

System 200 can also include a reception component 206 that can beconfigured to receive reports 208 from a multitude of mobile devices 210(e.g., first mobile device 118, second mobile device 120, and so forth).For example, each mobile device can measure multiple radios duringdefined events related to soft handover. These measurements can bereported, by the mobile device, to the network (e.g., to receptioncomponent 206). In an implementation, the measurements can be reportedby the mobile device in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) MeasurementReport. In another implementation, the measurements can be received asreference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements.

The measurements can comprise, for each radio (e.g., radio for eachsector), a primary scrambling code and a timing measurement (Tm) value.The primary scrambling code can be utilized to distinguish each sector'stransmissions from transmissions from other sectors (or cells). The Tmvalue is a timing measurement representing the difference between theSFN (System Frame Number) and the CFN (Connection Frame Number) asreceived at the mobile device for each radio.

Another report received by the reception component 206 can be a locationreport that identifies the geographic coordinates or location (e.g.,latitude, longitude, altitude) of the mobile device at the time (orsubstantially the same time as) the report is generated by the mobiledevice. In an implementation, the location can be a RANAP (Radio AccessNetwork Application Protocol) Location Report that can be conveyed tothe network (e.g., to reception component 206) when requested by anexternal service through the control plane, or at a different time.

The one or more reports 208 received from the mobile devices 210 (e.g.,a mobile device can convey more than one report and/or multiple mobiledevices can transmit one or more reports) can be stored in a database212 (as illustrated) or another computer readable storage medium. It isnoted that a database (e.g., database 212) can include volatile memoryor nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile memory andnonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation,nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM(PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasablePROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include randomaccess memory (RAM), which can operate as external cache memory. By wayof illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms suchas static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM),double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), SynchlinkDRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The memory (e.g., datastores, databases, and so on) of the various disclosed aspects isintended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any othersuitable types of memory. In an aspect, database 212 is included as acomponent within the disclosed systems. However, according to otheraspects, the database 212 can be located remote from the system but canbe accessed by system (e.g., over an air interface).

Also included in system 200 is an assessment component 214 that can beconfigured to perform comparisons associated with the Tm values, primaryscrambling codes, and the mobile device location reports. The assessmentcomponent 214 can utilize both historical data (e.g., data reportedearlier in minutes, hours, days, weeks, and so forth) with current data(e.g., date reported within the last few minutes). In an implementation,the assessment component 214 can be configured to determine pairings ofthe sectors as reported by the mobile devices. The pairings can bedetermined by the assessment component 214 based on the primaryscrambling code associated with each timing measurement. For example, asmany mobile devices (e.g., 10 devices, 15 devices, 30 devices, 76devices, and so forth) report timing measurements and associated primaryscrambling code information (as well as respective positioninformation), the assessment component 214 can determine which sectorsare within close proximity of each other and can be paired.

For example, when a first mobile device reports timing measurements of afirst set of sectors, it is in indication that the mobile device, at itscurrent location, is within (or near) the coverage areas of the sectorswithin the first set of sectors. Further, when a second mobile devicereports timing measurements of a second set of sectors, it indicatesthat the second mobile device, at its current location, is within (ornear) the coverage areas of the sectors within the second set ofsectors. Subsequent mobile devices can also report timing measurementsof subsequent sets of sectors. In some aspects, the same sector(s) canbe contained within each set (e.g., first set, second set, subsequentsets), such as in the case where the mobile devices are located insubstantially the same location or within a certain area. In some cases,there might not be overlap of the sectors within the sets, such as ifthe mobile devices are located in different areas of a city, on oppositesides of a tall building, and so forth.

For example, a first mobile device reports timing measurements forSector A, Sector B, and Sector D; a second mobile device reports timingmeasurements for Sector B, Sector C, and Sector D; and a third mobiledevice reports timing measurements for Sector B Sector E and Sector F.Based on these reports, the assessment component can determine sectorpairings, such as Sector A-Sector B pair (AB pair), AD pair, BA pair, BDpair, BC pair, CB pair, CD pair, DC pair, BE pair, BF pair, EF pair, FEpair, and so on.

In another example, the timing measurements can be utilized atsubstantially the same time as neighbor lists (intra-frequency and/orinter-frequency). A neighbor list is a table that associates each sectorwith its neighboring sectors and which a mobile device can use toinitiate a handover request. The neighbor list can be stored in adatabase or memory. The assessment component 214 can compare the timingmeasurements received with the neighbor list and determine the pairingif the sectors are indicated as neighbors. Thus, according to thisexample, if the sectors are not identified in the list as neighbors, thepairing between the sectors might not be created. However, according tovarious implementations, a neighbor list is not utilized with thedisclosed aspects.

Based on the pairings and through a process of elimination, a faultyradio oscillator can be detected, which might also be indicated ifvarious problems have been observed within a wireless communicationsenvironment (e.g., soft handover issues). In an example, assessmentcomponent 214 can evaluate the pairings associated with a first sector(e.g., Sector B) and a fixed location (e.g., location as reported by themobile device(s)). If the timing measurements of some pairings of SectorB (e.g., pairings AB, BA, BC, CB, and so forth) are good (e.g., thetiming measurements of each pairing represents an expected value withina tolerance) except when paired with sector C, assessment component 214can determine that Sector B is operating correctly and can eliminateSector B as having a defective radio oscillator. Assessment component214 might also make a preliminary determination that Sector C might befaulty and can evaluate the other pairings. Further to this example,Sector A's measurements, relative to the other sector's measurements,might be good in all cases except for the AC pairing (or the CApairing). Thus, assessment component 214 can eliminate Sector A ashaving a defective radio oscillator. Assessment component 214 cancontinue the evaluations of the pairs (wherein the pairs comprise atleast one common sector) and in a similar manner eliminate other sectorsby determining those other sectors do not have a defective oscillator.Through this process, the sector that has the defective radio oscillator(e.g., Sector C in this example) can be isolated and identified by theassessment component 214. Further details related to the elimination andisolation of sectors will be provided below.

Also included in system 200 is an output component 216 that can beconfigured to convey information to a network operator or another userand/or entity (e.g., the Internet, another system, a computer,machinery, and so forth), hereinafter referred to as users and/orentity, depending on the context. In an example, a request can be sentto system 200 in order to initiate the analysis of the various sectorsand identification of a potential faulty radio oscillator. However,according to some aspects, the analysis and identification is ongoingsuch that as mobile devices provide reports, a faulty radio oscillatoris detected and identified automatically.

At substantially the same time as the analysis is completed by system200 (or sometime thereafter), output component 216 can convey theinformation to a user and/or entity. In an implementation, the analysisinformation can be transmitted in an exception report that includes theidentified sector and/or can include analysis and information related tothe other sectors (e.g., sector identification, timing measurementsreported by the mobile devices, an identification of the type of eachmobile device, and so forth). Based on the analysis received from outputcomponent 216, the faulty radio oscillator can be replaced or anotheraction can be performed (e.g., entire radio replaced, maintenancescheduled, no action until further analysis is received, and so forth)as deemed appropriate based on various considerations including standardoperating procedures related to the network.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example, non-limiting system 300 configuredto evaluate various sectors and determine whether one or more sectorshas a faulty radio oscillator, according to an aspect. Each mobiledevice included in the set of mobile devices 210 can be identified basedon its international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI 302), which is aunique identification associated with various mobile devices. The IMSI302 can be a number having 15 digits or any other number of digits. TheIMSI 302 can be included in one or more reports 208 transmitted by eachmobile device.

Each mobile device can also report timing measurements values (Tm values304), which are the timing measurements as measured by each mobiledevice. In an implementation, the Tm values 304 can be reported in anRRC measurement report or a different type (or name) of report. Each Tmvalue can be associated with a primary scrambling code (PSC 306), whichdifferentiate radios (e.g., WCDMA) radios from one another, as detectedby the mobile device. The PSC 306 can be transmitted in the RRCmeasurement report according to an implementation.

Each mobile device can also reports its current location 308 (e.g.,position information), which can include various geographic coordinatesincluding latitude, longitude, and/or altitude. In an implementation,the current location 308 of the mobile device can be received in a RANAPlocation report or a different type (or name) of report.

The various information from each mobile device (e.g., IMSI 302, Tm 304,PSC 306, current location 308) can be received by reception component206. Further, the various information can be stored in database 212. Thevarious information and/or reports can be stored in the database (orother storage medium) in any type of format (e.g., table, list, and soforth) that allows the information to be accessed, as needed.

Also included in system 300 is an association component 310 that can beconfigured to create pairs of sectors. The pairs of sectors can becreated by association component 310 based on all possible combinationsof the Tm values 304, as reported by each mobile device. For example,the pairs can be formed based on radios from a single site or fromradios on one or more different sites.

Based on the pairs created by association component 310, an evaluationcomponent 312 can be configured to determine which sector in thereported sectors is the sector that has a radio oscillator failure. Theevaluation component 312 can isolate a potential faulty radio oscillatorby eliminating all other radios in the pairs of sectors (e.g., based onpairs that share a common sector). In some cases, a faulty radiooscillator might not be included in any of the pairs and evaluationcomponent 312 can provide information that there was no faulty radiooscillator detected. However, in some aspects, if a faulty radiooscillator is not detected, no further action is performed by evaluationcomponent 312 for that particular analysis (e.g., no information isprovided to output component 216).

For example, each Tm value, when compared with all other radio Tmvalues, yields an observed time difference (OTD), whereOTD_(ji)=Tm_(j)−Tm_(i), where j and i represents Site j and Site i,respectively. The location report or current location 308 can provide afixed reference location for each Tm value. In the case of a UMTSnetwork, which might not be GPS synchronized, the fixed referencelocation is established based on the location report when the locationreport is received at about the same time the Tm values are received.Once the fixed reference location is obtained, the OTD measures can berecorded (e.g., stored in database 212). Overtime, as many measurementsare obtained, a single radio issue can be detected, as compared with allother radios for which information has been received. In animplementation, the OTD and a propagation delay can be removed from theTm value, resulting in a real time difference (RTD) between the pairs ofsectors. The propagation delay is the amount of time that it takes forthe signal to go from the sector side radio to the mobile device. TheRTD can represent the back end stability of the system and should be thesame for all mobile devices, unless a faulty oscillator is present.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example, non-limiting system 400 for detecting afaulty radio oscillator while compensating for data reportederroneously, according to an aspect. System 400 is configured to detecta mobile device that is not reporting correct information, which can bedue to the mobile device being defective and/or for other reasons (e.g.,incorrect time measurements, and so forth). In order to mitigate thechances that erroneous data is utilized to detect a faulty radiooscillator and thereby inappropriately skew the results, system 400 caninclude an outlier component 402 that can be configured to determinewhere one or more mobile devices are reporting vastly differentmeasurements when compared with reported information from other mobiledevices.

In an implementation, outlier component 402 can review the timingmeasurements received from each device and can cause other systemcomponents to ignore faulty measurements. For example, outlier component402 can utilize outlier detection, which can include identifying timingmeasurements that are distinct from a set of other, substantially thesame, timing measurements (e.g., timing measurements from the samesector, timing measurements at the same or similar location, and soforth). If one or more distinct timing measurements are discovered,outlier component 402 can remove (e.g., delete) the distinct timingmeasurement from the database 212, according to an aspect.

In another implementation, outlier component 402 can be configured toflag the one or more timing measurements, wherein the flag instructs theother system components to ignore the flagged timing measurement. Insome implementations, outlier component 402 can delete or flag allmeasurements (and associated sector pairs) from the mobile device thatexhibits the potentially erroneous measurement reports.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example, non-liming system 500 configured toobtain information from multiple mobile device types, wherein theinformation is utilized to detect a faulty mobile timing measurement,according to an aspect. For example, system 500 can be utilized todistinguish between mobile types in order to determine whether themeasurements indicate a faulty radio oscillator or instead whether themeasurements indicate that a particular mobile type is reportingdifferent measurements (in some cases widely different measurements)than those measurements being reported by other mobile types.

System 500 includes an identifier component 502 that can be configuredto separate the reports based on mobile type. Information related to thetype of mobile device that is reporting the various information (e.g.,timing measurements, position information, and so forth) can be derivedfrom the IMSI conveyed by the mobile device. For example, identifiercomponent 502 can access a database or other storage media that containsinformation that can be used to cross reference the IMSI to a mobiletype. Identifier component 502 can separate the various reportedinformation by mobile type. Over time, the reported information can bereviewed to determine whether a particular mobile type is providingincorrect measurements.

If it is determined that a particular mobile type is reporting incorrectinformation, outlier component 402 can remove the measurements and otherreported information reported by mobile devices of the identified type.In another implementation, outlier component 402 can flag theinformation, which can be selectively ignored by other system componentswhen attempting to detect the presence of a faulty radio oscillator.

Additionally or alternatively, identifier component 502 can beconfigured to ascertain the type of mobile device providing the reports(e.g., timing information, primary scrambling code, and so forth). Ifthe reports are received from a single mobile device type, the reportsmight not be considered. However, if the reports are received from twoor more mobile devices of different types, the reports might be deemedacceptable to be analyzed for the presence of a faulty radio oscillatoras discussed herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example, non-limiting system 600 that employs anartificial intelligence (AI) component 602, which facilitates automatingone or more features in accordance with the disclosed aspects. Areception component 604, an assessment component 606, a database 608, aswell as other components (not illustrated) can include functionality, asmore fully described herein, for example, with regard to the previousfigures. The disclosed aspects (e.g., in connection with detecting afaulty radio oscillator and/or detecting faulty mobile timingmeasurements) can employ various AI-based schemes for carrying outvarious aspects thereof. For example, a process for collecting timingmeasurements, primary scrambling codes, position information, and/ormobile device type information can be facilitated through an exampleautomatic classifier system and process.

An example classifier can be a function that maps an input attributevector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, xn), to a confidence that the input belongsto a class, that is, f(x)=confidence(class). Such classification canemploy a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g.,factoring into the analysis utilities and costs) to prognose or infer anaction that should be automatically performed. In the case ofcommunication systems, for example, attributes can be information storedin the database 608, and the classes can be categories or areas ofinterest (e.g., timing measurements related to sector pairs).

A support vector machine (SVM) is an example of a classifier that can beemployed. The SVM can operate by finding a hypersurface in the space ofpossible inputs, which the hypersurface attempts to split the triggeringcriteria from the non-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes theclassification correct for testing data that is near, but not identicalto training data. Other directed and undirected model classificationapproaches include, for example, naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks,decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilisticclassification models providing different patterns of independence canbe employed. Classification as used herein also may be inclusive ofstatistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily noted, the disclosed aspects can employ classifiersthat are explicitly trained (e.g., through a generic training data) aswell as implicitly trained (e.g., through observing timing measurementsand other received data, receiving extrinsic information, and so on).For example, SVMs can be configured through a learning or training phasewithin a classifier constructor and feature selection module. Thus, theclassifier(s) can be used to automatically learn and perform a number offunctions, including but not limited to determining according to apredetermined criteria whether a faulty radio oscillator has beendetected, whether a type of mobile device is providing incorrectinformation, and so on. The criteria can include, but is not limited to,historical timing measurements, mobile device type, problems associatedwith soft handover within a wireless communications network, location ofthe mobile device, operating procedures associated with the network, andso on.

In view of the example systems shown and described herein, methods thatmay be implemented in accordance with the one or more of the disclosedaspects, will be better understood with reference to the following flowcharts. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodsare shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be understoodthat the disclosed aspects are not limited by the number or order ofblocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/or atsubstantially the same time with other blocks from what is depicted anddescribed herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be requiredto implement the methods described hereinafter. It is noted that thefunctionality associated with the blocks may be implemented by software,hardware, a combination thereof or any other suitable means (e.g.device, system, process, component, and so forth). Additionally, it isalso noted that the methods disclosed hereinafter and throughout thisspecification are capable of being stored on an article of manufactureto facilitate transporting and transferring such methodologies tovarious devices. Those skilled in the art will understand that a methodcould alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram. The various methods disclosed hereincan be performed by a system comprising at least one processor.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 for detection of radio oscillatorinstability, according to an aspect. Method 700 starts, at 700 whenlow-level information is received from one or more mobile devices. Thelow-level information can comprise timing measurements and positioninformation as reported by the mobile device. The timing measurementscan be measured by the respective mobile device and represent the timingmeasurements between radios from different sites at the time of themeasurement. The position information is the geographic location (e.g.,altitude, latitude, longitude) of the mobile device at the time thereport is provided. In an implementation, the timing measurements arereceived in a RRC Measurement report(s) and the location information isreceived in a RANAP Location Report.

At 704, the radio pairings are determined as a result of the receivedinformation. For example, there are four radios on the same site(although the four radios can be on different sites, the same site isutilized for example purposes). The four radios are Radio K, Radio I,Radio J, and Radio M. An RRC measurement report (or a different reportcomprising timing measurement information) is received for the fourradios and are paired together to derive relative timing measurements.Thus, there is a Radio K-Radio I (KI) measurement, a Radio K-Radio J(KJ) measurement, a Radio K-Radio M (KM) measurement, as well as otherpairings (e.g., Radio I-Radio J (IJ) measurement, Radio I-Radio M (IM)measurement, Radio J-Radio M (JM) measurement, and so forth). Thus, thedifferent combinations are identified.

For each pair of measurements, position information is available (e.g.,from the RANAP report that provides a specific location of the mobiledevice at the time of the measurement). Thus, if the timing measurementand the position information are provided at substantially the sametime, it can be assumed that the relative measurements that are beingreviewed occurred at that location (or substantially at that location).

The time difference of arrival (TDOA) for calculating multilaterationfor locating a mobile device can be utilized, in part, because thedisclosed aspects are utilized to find various parameters related to thenetwork. For example, a portion of the TDOA is an observed timedifference (OTD), which is the OTD as observed by the mobile device andwhat is utilized to perform the above noted pairings.

At 706, at least one radio from the radio pairings is identified asbeing unstable. The identification can be based on observations of theone radio (based on its radio pairings) as compared to the other radios(based on their respective radio pairings), wherein the radio pairingsshare a common radio.

Through a process of elimination, a radio that exhibits instability canbe ascertained. For example, there are four radios, Radio K, Radio I,Radio J, and Radio M, which results in at least the following parings:KI, KJ, KM, IK, IJ, IM, JK, JI, JM, MK, MI, and MJ. In this example itis observed that Radio I can be eliminated because Radio I is good inall cases (e.g., IJ, IM, JI, MI) except when paired with Radio K (e.g.,KI, IK). Further, Radio J can be eliminated because Radio J is observedto be good in all cases (e.g., IJ, JI, MJ, JM) except when paired withRadio K (e.g., KJ, JK). Further to this example, Radio M can beeliminated because Radio M is observed to be good in all cases (e.g.,IM, JM, MI, MJ) except when paired with Radio K (e.g., KM, MK). Thus, inthis example, Radio K can be isolated as being faulty or unstable.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example, non-limiting method 800 forisolating a faulty radio oscillator, according to an aspect. At 802,timing and position reports are received from a multitude of mobiledevices. Each mobile device can report timing measures for similarsectors or for different sectors. In an example, a first mobile devicecan provide measurement reports for a first set of sectors and a secondmobile device can provide measurement reports for a second set ofsectors. In an implementation, at least one sector in the first set andthe second set overlap (or are common to both sets). For example, thefirst set can contain timing information related to Sector A, Sector C,and Sector D and the second set can contain information related toSector D, Sector E, and Sector F (wherein Sector D is the common oroverlapping sector). According to another implementation, there mightnot be any sectors within the first set and the second set that overlap.For example, the first set can contain timing information related toSector A, Sector B, and Sector C and the second set can containinformation related to Sector D, Sector E, and Sector F. In this cases,the sets are stored as historical data and used for later analysis withadditional sector pairings.

The timing measurements and associated position information can bestored, at 804, in a retrievable format. For example, the informationcan be stored in a memory or a database (as historical data). As othermobile devices (or the same mobile device) provide additional timingmeasurements and associated position information, the data is aggregatedwith the previously received information. In an example, the informationcan be stored as a mapping wherein the timing information is mapped toan identification of the radio. Further, the timing information andradio identification can be mapped to a location of the mobile devicewhen the timing information was reported.

At 806, radio pairs from the timing measurements for the first set andthe second set of radios are determined Continuing the example where thefirst set contains timing information related to Sector A, Sector C, andSector D and the second set contains timing information related toSector D, Sector E, and Sector F, the radio pairs that can be determinedinclude: A-C pair, A-D pair, C-D pair, D-E pair, D-F pair, E-F pair, andso forth.

The observed time difference is ascertained, at 808, based onsubtracting a time measurement of a first sector from a time measurementof a second sector. For example, the observed time difference for sectorpair C-D is obtained by subtracting the time measurement of sector Dfrom the time measurement of sector C (OTD_(CD)=Tm_(C)−Tm_(D)). Theobserved time difference and a propagation delay are removed from therespective timing measurements to obtain a real time delay. At 810, eachradio pair is evaluated with respect to other radio pairs, having acommon radio, to isolate a radio having a faulty radio oscillator.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example, non-limiting method 900 fordetecting a radio that has a faulty oscillator, according to an aspect.At 902, sets of reports are received from multiple mobile devices. Forexample, a first set of reports can be received from a first mobiledevice and a second set of reports can be received from a second mobiledevice. At 904, an observed time difference between radio pairsidentified from the sets of reports is analyzed. A radio having a faultyoscillator is determined, at 906, based in part on a comparison of theobserved time differences of each radio pair with other radio pairs thatshare a common radio.

In an implementation, the analysis, at 904, can include matching, at908, sets of two radios in the first set of reports to determine radiopairs and matching sets of two radios in the second set of reports todetermine radio pairs. Further, at 910, the observed time difference ofradio pairs that comprise at least one common radio are analyzed todetermine the radio that has the faulty oscillator, if any. In animplementation, the first set of reports can comprise timingmeasurements, and associated primary scrambling codes, measured by thefirst mobile device and the second set of reports can comprise timingmeasurements, and associated primary scrambling codes, measured by thesecond mobile device.

In some implementations, method 900 can include generating, at 912, areport that identifies the radio having the faulty radio oscillator. At914, the report is output to at least one device (e.g., a computerassociated with a network operator). In accordance with some aspects,information about the identified faulty radio oscillator can betransmitted to a network operator through an exception report or throughanother means of conveying the information related to the faultyoscillator.

According to some aspects, the method can include identifying a firstmobile type of the first mobile device and a second mobile type of thesecond mobile device. Further to this aspect, determining the radio hasthe faulty oscillator is performed if the first mobile type and thesecond mobile type are different.

In accordance with some aspects, the method can include determining oneor more timing measurements from a first set of timing measurements areoutliers when compared with timing measurements from a second set oftiming measurements. Further to this aspect, the method can includeremoving the outliers from the determination of a faulty radiooscillator.

By way of further description with respect to one or more non-limitingways to detect a faulty oscillator and/or to detect faulty mobile timingmeasurements, FIG. 10 is a schematic example wireless environment 1000that can operate in accordance with aspects described herein. Inparticular, example wireless environment 1000 illustrates a set ofwireless network macro cells. Three coverage macro cells 1002, 1004, and1006 include the illustrative wireless environment; however, it is notedthat wireless cellular network deployments can encompass any number ofmacro cells. Coverage macro cells 1002, 1004, and 1006 are illustratedas hexagons; however, coverage cells can adopt other geometriesgenerally dictated by a deployment configuration or floor plan,geographic areas to be covered, and so on. Each macro cell 1002, 1004,and 1006 is sectorized in a 2π/3 configuration in which each macro cellincludes three sectors, demarcated with dashed lines in FIG. 10. It isnoted that other sectorizations are possible, and aspects or features ofthe disclosed subject matter can be exploited regardless of type ofsectorization. Macro cells 1002, 1004, and 1006 are served respectivelythrough base stations or eNodeBs 1008, 1010, and 1012. Any two eNodeBscan be considered an eNodeB site pair (NBSP). It is noted that radiocomponent(s) are functionally coupled through links such as cables(e.g., RF and microwave coaxial lines), ports, switches, connectors, andthe like, to a set of one or more antennas that transmit and receivewireless signals (not illustrated). It is noted that a radio networkcontroller (not shown), which can be a part of mobile networkplatform(s) 1014, and set of base stations (e.g., eNode B 1008, 1010,and 1012) that serve a set of macro cells; electronic circuitry orcomponents associated with the base stations in the set of basestations; a set of respective wireless links (e.g., links 1016, 1018,and 1020) operated in accordance to a radio technology through the basestations, form a macro radio access network (RAN). It is further notedthat, based on network features, the radio controller can be distributedamong the set of base stations or associated radio equipment. In anaspect, for UMTS-based networks, wireless links 1016, 1018, and 1020embody a Uu interface (UMTS Air Interface).

Mobile network platform(s) 1014 facilitates circuit switched (CS)-based(e.g., voice and data) and packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol(IP), frame relay, or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) traffic andsignaling generation, as well as delivery and reception for networkedtelecommunication, in accordance with various radio technologies fordisparate markets. Telecommunication is based at least in part onstandardized protocols for communication determined by a radiotechnology utilized for communication. In addition, telecommunicationcan exploit various frequency bands, or carriers, which include any EMfrequency bands licensed by the service provider network 1022 (e.g.,personal communication services (PCS), advanced wireless services (AWS),general wireless communications service (GWCS), and so forth), and anyunlicensed frequency bands currently available for telecommunication(e.g., the 2.4 GHz industrial, medical and scientific (IMS) band or oneor more of the 5 GHz set of bands). In addition, mobile networkplatform(s) 1014 can control and manage base stations 1008, 1010, and1012 and radio component(s) associated thereof, in disparate macro cells1002, 1004, and 1006 by way of, for example, a wireless networkmanagement component (e.g., radio network controller(s), cellulargateway node(s), etc.) Moreover, wireless network platform(s) canintegrate disparate networks (e.g., femto network(s), Wi-Fi network(s),femto cell network(s), broadband network(s), service network(s),enterprise network(s), and so on). In cellular wireless technologies(e.g., 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS), Global System for Mobile Communication(GSM)), mobile network platform 1014 can be embodied in the serviceprovider network 1022.

In addition, wireless backhaul link(s) 1024 can include wired linkcomponents such as T1/E1 phone line; a digital subscriber line (DSL)either synchronous or asynchronous; an asymmetric DSL (ADSL); an opticalfiber backbone; a coaxial cable, etc.; and wireless link components suchas line-of-sight (LOS) or non-LOS links which can include terrestrialair-interfaces or deep space links (e.g., satellite communication linksfor navigation). In an aspect, for UMTS-based networks, wirelessbackhaul link(s) 1024 embodies IuB interface.

It is noted that while example wireless environment 1000 is illustratedfor macro cells and macro base stations, aspects, features andadvantages of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented inmicrocells, picocells, femto cells, or the like, wherein base stationsare embodied in home-based equipment related to access to a network.

To provide further context for various aspects of the disclosed subjectmatter, FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of accessequipment and/or software 1100 related to access of a network (e.g.,base station, wireless access point, femtocell access point, and soforth) that can enable and/or exploit features or aspects of thedisclosed aspects.

Access equipment and/or software 1100 related to access of a network canreceive and transmit signal(s) from and to wireless devices, wirelessports, wireless routers, etc. through segments 1102 ₁-1102 _(B) (B is apositive integer). Segments 1102 ₁-1102 _(B) can be internal and/orexternal to access equipment and/or software 1100 related to access of anetwork, and can be controlled by a monitor component 1104 and anantenna component 1106. Monitor component 1104 and antenna component1106 can couple to communication platform 1108, which can includeelectronic components and associated circuitry that provide forprocessing and manipulation of received signal(s) and other signal(s) tobe transmitted.

In an aspect, communication platform 1108 includes areceiver/transmitter 1110 that can convert analog signals to digitalsignals upon reception of the analog signals, and can convert digitalsignals to analog signals upon transmission. In addition,receiver/transmitter 1110 can divide a single data stream into multiple,parallel data streams, or perform the reciprocal operation. Coupled toreceiver/transmitter 1110 can be a multiplexer/demultiplexer 1112 thatcan facilitate manipulation of signals in time and frequency space.Multiplexer/demultiplexer 1112 can multiplex information (data/trafficand control/signaling) according to various multiplexing schemes such astime division multiplexing (TDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM),orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), code divisionmultiplexing (CDM), space division multiplexing (SDM). In addition,multiplexer/demultiplexer component 1112 can scramble and spreadinformation (e.g., codes, according to substantially any code known inthe art, such as Hadamard-Walsh codes, Baker codes, Kasami codes,polyphase codes, and so forth).

A modulator/demodulator 1114 is also a part of communication platform1108, and can modulate information according to multiple modulationtechniques, such as frequency modulation, amplitude modulation (e.g.,M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), with M a positive integer);phase-shift keying (PSK); and so forth).

Access equipment and/or software 1100 related to access of a networkalso includes a processor 1116 configured to confer, at least in part,functionality to substantially any electronic component in accessequipment and/or software 1100. In particular, processor 1116 canfacilitate configuration of access equipment and/or software 1100through, for example, monitor component 1104, antenna component 1106,and one or more components therein. Additionally, access equipmentand/or software 1100 can include display interface 1118, which candisplay functions that control functionality of access equipment and/orsoftware 1100, or reveal operation conditions thereof. In addition,display interface 1118 can include a screen to convey information to anend user. In an aspect, display interface 1118 can be an LCD (LiquidCrystal Display), a plasma panel, a monolithic thin-film basedelectrochromic display, and so on. Moreover, display interface 1118 caninclude a component (e.g., speaker) that facilitates communication ofaural indicia, which can also be employed in connection with messagesthat convey operational instructions to an end user. Display interface1118 can also facilitate data entry (e.g., through a linked keypad orthrough touch gestures), which can cause access equipment and/orsoftware 1100 to receive external commands (e.g., restart operation).

Broadband network interface 1120 facilitates connection of accessequipment and/or software 1100 to a service provider network (not shown)that can include one or more cellular technologies (e.g., 3GPP UMTS,GSM, and so on.) through backhaul link(s) (not shown), which enableincoming and outgoing data flow. Broadband network interface 1120 can beinternal or external to access equipment and/or software 1100, and canutilize display interface 1118 for end-user interaction and statusinformation delivery.

Processor 1116 can be functionally connected to communication platform1108 and can facilitate operations on data (e.g., symbols, bits, orchips) for multiplexing/demultiplexing, such as effecting direct andinverse fast Fourier transforms, selection of modulation rates,selection of data packet formats, inter-packet times, and so on.Moreover, processor 1116 can be functionally connected, through data,system, or an address bus 1122, to display interface 1118 and broadbandnetwork interface 1120, to confer, at least in part, functionality toeach of such components.

In access equipment and/or software 1100, memory 1124 can retainlocation and/or coverage area (e.g., macro sector, identifier(s)),access list(s) that authorize access to wireless coverage through accessequipment and/or software 1100, sector intelligence that can includeranking of coverage areas in the wireless environment of accessequipment and/or software 1100, radio link quality and strengthassociated therewith, or the like. Memory 1124 also can store datastructures, code instructions and program modules, system or deviceinformation, code sequences for scrambling, spreading and pilottransmission, access point configuration, and so on. Processor 1116 canbe coupled (e.g., through a memory bus) to memory 1124 in order to storeand retrieve information used to operate and/or confer functionality tothe components, platform, and interface that reside within accessequipment and/or software 1100.

As it employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or deviceincluding, but not limited to including, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsand/or processes described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scalearchitectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dotbased transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usageor enhance performance of mobile devices. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “data store,” datastorage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storagecomponent relevant to operation and functionality of a component and/orprocess, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory,” or components including the memory. It is noted that thememory components described herein can be either volatile memory ornonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory.

By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory, forexample, can be included in memory 1124, non-volatile memory (seebelow), disk storage (see below), and memory storage (see below).Further, nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory caninclude random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory.By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in manyforms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronousDRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM(ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to include, without being limited to including,these and any other suitable types of memory.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 12, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe various aspects also can be implemented in combination with otherprogram modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and/orimplement particular abstract data types. For example, in memory (suchas memory 202) there can be software, which can instruct a processor(such as processor 204) to perform various actions. The processor can beconfigured to execute the instructions in order to implement theanalysis of monitoring an uplink power level, detecting the uplink powerlevel is at or above a threshold level, and/or disable transmission ofat least one message as a result of the monitored uplink power level.

Moreover, those skilled in the art will understand that the variousaspects can be practiced with other computer system configurations,including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems,mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, base stations hand-held computing devices or user equipment,such as a PDA, phone, watch, and so forth, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 12, a block diagram of a computing system 1200operable to execute the disclosed systems and methods is illustrated, inaccordance with an embodiment. Computer 1202 includes a processing unit1204, a system memory 1206, and a system bus 1208. System bus 1208couples system components including, but not limited to, system memory1206 to processing unit 1204. Processing unit 1204 can be any of variousavailable processors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessorarchitectures also can be employed as processing unit 1204.

System bus 1208 can be any of several types of bus structure(s)including a memory bus or a memory controller, a peripheral bus or anexternal bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of available busarchitectures including, but not limited to, Industrial StandardArchitecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA(EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB),Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Card Bus, Universal Serial Bus(USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association bus (PCMCIA), Firewire (IEEE 1194), and SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI).

System memory 1206 includes volatile memory 1210 and nonvolatile memory1212. A basic input/output system (BIOS), containing routines totransfer information between elements within computer 1202, such asduring start-up, can be stored in nonvolatile memory 1212. By way ofillustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory 1212 can includeROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory. Volatile memory 1210 caninclude RAM, which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustrationand not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as SRAM, dynamicRAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDRSDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), Rambus directRAM (RDRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambus dynamic RAM(RDRAM).

Computer 1202 also includes removable/non-removable,volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. In an implementation, thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium can storecomputer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause asystem including a processor to perform operations. The operations caninclude storing a first set of observed time difference measurementsreceived from a first user device and associated with a reportedlocation of the first user device, a second set of observed timedifference measurements received from a second user device andassociated with a reported location of the second user device, and athird set of observed time difference measurements received from a thirduser device and associated with a reported location of the third userdevice. The operations can also include comparing pairs of sectorsidentified in the first, second, and third set of observed timedifference measurements. The pairs of sectors have at least one commonsector. The operations can also include detecting a faulty radiooscillator for at least one of the sectors of the pairs of sectors basedin part on the comparison.

In an aspect, the operations can also include receiving primaryscrambling codes for time difference measurements included in the first,second, and third sets of observed time difference measurements anddetermining pairs of sectors based on primary scrambling codes and thereported locations of the first, second, and third user devices.

In another aspect, the operations can include receiving internationalmobile subscriber identities of the first, second, and third userdevices and determining mobile types of the first, second, and thirduser devices based on the international mobile subscriber identities.Further to this aspect, comparing the pairs of sectors comprises usingtiming measurements from at least two user devices of the first, second,and third user devices that are of different mobile types.

The operations, according to another aspect can include performingoutlier detection to determine that the first set of observed timedifference measurements are faulty. After determining the first set ofobserved time difference measurements are faulty, the operations caninclude ignoring the first set of observed time difference measurementsin connection with comparing the pairs of sectors.

FIG. 12 illustrates the removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatilecomputer storage media as, for example, disk storage 1214. Disk storage1214 includes, but is not limited to, devices such as a magnetic diskdrive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, Jaz drive, Zip drive, LS-100drive, flash memory card, or memory stick. In addition, disk storage1214 can include storage media separately or in combination with otherstorage media including, but not limited to, an optical disk drive suchas a compact disk ROM device (CD-ROM), CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive),CD rewritable drive (CD-RW Drive) or a digital versatile disk ROM drive(DVD-ROM). To facilitate connection of the disk storage 1214 to systembus 1208, a removable or non-removable interface is typically used, suchas interface component 1216.

It is to be noted that FIG. 12 describes software that acts as anintermediary between users and computer resources described in suitableoperating environment. Such software includes an operating system 1218.Operating system 1218, which can be stored on disk storage 1214, acts tocontrol and allocate resources of computer system 1202. Systemapplications 1220 can take advantage of the management of resources byoperating system 1218 through program modules 1222 and program data 1224stored either in system memory 1206 or on disk storage 1214. It is to beunderstood that the disclosed subject matter can be implemented withvarious operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands or information, for example through interfacecomponent 1216, into computer system 1202 through input device(s) 1226.Input devices 1226 include, but are not limited to, a pointing devicesuch as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad, keyboard, microphone,joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TV tuner card, digitalcamera, digital video camera, web camera, and the like. These and otherinput devices connect to processing unit 1204 through system bus 1208through interface port(s) 1228. Interface port(s) 1228 include, forexample, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, and a universalserial bus (USB). Output device(s) 1230 use some of the same type ofports as input device(s) 1226.

Thus, for example, a USB port can be used to provide input to computer1202 and to output information from computer 1202 to an output device1230. Output adapter 1232 is provided to illustrate that there are someoutput devices 1230, such as monitors, speakers, and printers, amongother output devices 1230, which use special adapters. Output adapters1232 include, by way of illustration and not limitation, video and soundcards that provide means of connection between output device 1230 andsystem bus 1208. It is also noted that other devices and/or systems ofdevices provide both input and output capabilities such as remotecomputer(s) 1234.

Computer 1202 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s)1234. Remote computer(s) 1234 can be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, apeer device, or other common network node and the like, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to computer1202.

For purposes of brevity, only one memory storage device 1236 isillustrated with remote computer(s) 1234. Remote computer(s) 1234 islogically connected to computer 1202 through a network interface 1238and then physically connected through communication connection 1240.Network interface 1238 encompasses wire and/or wireless communicationnetworks such as local-area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN).LAN technologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), CopperDistributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ring and the like.WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links,circuit switching networks like Integrated Services Digital Networks(ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, and DigitalSubscriber Lines (DSL).

Communication connection(s) 1240 refer(s) to hardware/software employedto connect network interface 1238 to system bus 1208. Whilecommunication connection 1240 is shown for illustrative clarity insidecomputer 1202, it can also be external to computer 1202. Thehardware/software for connection to network interface 1238 can include,for example, internal and external technologies such as modems,including regular telephone grade modems, cable modems and DSL modems,ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.

It is to be noted that aspects, features, or advantages of the aspectsdescribed in the subject specification can be exploited in substantiallyany communication technology. For example, 4G technologies, Wi-Fi,WiMAX, Enhanced GPRS, 3GPP LTE, 3GPP2 UMB, 3GPP UMTS, HSPA, HSDPA,HSUPA, GERAN, UTRAN, LTE Advanced. Additionally, substantially allaspects disclosed herein can be exploited in legacy telecommunicationtechnologies; e.g., GSM. In addition, mobile as well non-mobile networks(e.g., Internet, data service network such as IPTV) can exploit aspector features described herein.

Various aspects or features described herein can be implemented as amethod, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programmingand/or engineering techniques. In addition, various aspects disclosed inthe subject specification can also be implemented through programmodules stored in a memory and executed by a processor, or othercombination of hardware and software, or hardware and firmware.

Other combinations of hardware and software or hardware and firmware canenable or implement aspects described herein, including disclosedmethod(s). The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intendedto encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readabledevice, carrier, or media. For example, computer readable media caninclude but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., harddisk, floppy disk, magnetic strips . . . ), optical discs (e.g., compactdisc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), blu-ray disc (BD) . . . ),smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive . .. ).

Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which caninclude computer-readable storage media or communications media, whichtwo terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.

Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structureddata, or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media can include,but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical diskstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or other tangible and/or non-transitorymedia which can be used to store desired information. Computer-readablestorage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computingdevices, e.g., through access requests, queries or other data retrievalprotocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the informationstored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information deliveryor transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refersto a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changedin such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By wayof example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media,such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless mediasuch as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

What has been described above includes examples of systems and methodsthat provide advantages of the one or more aspects. It is, of course,not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components ormethods for purposes of describing the aspects, but one of ordinaryskill in the art may recognize that many further combinations andpermutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Furthermore, tothe extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the likeare used in the detailed description, claims, appendices and drawingssuch terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term“comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as atransitional word in a claim.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,” and thelike are intended to refer to a computer-related entity or an entityrelated to an operational apparatus with one or more specificfunctionalities, wherein the entity can be either hardware, acombination of hardware and software, software, or software inexecution. As an example, a component may be, but is not limited tobeing, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, anexecutable, a thread of execution, computer-executable instructions, aprogram, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an applicationrunning on a server or network controller, and the server or networkcontroller can be a component. One or more components may reside withina process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized onone computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. Also,these components can execute from various computer readable media havingvarious data structures stored thereon. The components may communicatevia local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signalhaving one or more data packets (e.g., data from one componentinteracting with another component in a local system, distributedsystem, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systemsvia the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatuswith specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated byelectric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by a software, orfirmware application executed by a processor, wherein the processor canbe internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part ofthe software or firmware application. As yet another example, acomponent can be an apparatus that provides specific functionalitythrough electronic components without mechanical parts, the electroniccomponents can include a processor therein to execute software orfirmware that confers at least in part the functionality of theelectronic components. As further yet another example, interface(s) caninclude input/output (I/O) components as well as associated processor,application, or Application Programming Interface (API) components.

The term “set”, “subset”, or the like as employed herein excludes theempty set (e.g., the set with no elements therein). Thus, a “set”,“subset”, or the like includes one or more elements or periods, forexample. As an illustration, a set of periods includes one or moreperiods; a set of transmissions includes one or more transmissions; aset of resources includes one or more resources; a set of messagesincludes one or more messages, and so forth.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in thesubject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construedto mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from contextto be directed to a singular form.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a processor; and a memorythat stores executable instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: receivinginformation related to base station radio pairs comprising a first basestation radio pair that further comprises a first base station radio anda second base station radio, and a second base station radio pair thatfurther comprises a third base station radio; and determining a firstlikelihood that a suspect radio of the base station radio pairscomprises an unstable radio oscillator via elimination of another basestation radio of the base station radio pairs that is determined tosatisfy a rule related to a second likelihood that the other basestation radio is stable when not paired with the suspect radio and isdetermined to satisfy another rule related to a third likelihood thatthe other base station radio is unstable when paired with the suspectradio.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise: receiving timing information comprising a first timingmeasurement related to the first base station radio pair; and inresponse to determining the first base station radio is associated withan expected timing measurement to within a determined tolerance,designating the first base station radio as operable.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the operations further comprise: determining a measuredtime value based on the timing information; determining a calculatedtime value based on geographic information related to a location of thefirst base station radio; determining a delay value based on themeasured time value and the calculated time value; and in response todetermining that the delay value satisfies a rule related to an expecteddelay, identifying the suspect radio.
 4. The system of claim 2, whereinthe operations further comprise associating a primary scrambling codewith a first timing measurement.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise: identifying, at a first time, a first fixedreference based on a first location of the first base station radio; andstoring the first fixed reference with timing information correspondingto the first time.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: in response to determining that a timing measurementrelated to the first base station radio pair is an outlier based onanother timing measurement related to the second base station radiopair, marking the timing measurement as unreliable information.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the receiving the information comprisesreceiving a radio resource measurement report comprising a first timingmeasurement related to the first base station radio pair, and a secondtiming measurement related to the second base station radio pair.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the receiving the information comprisesreceiving a first radio resource measurement report comprising a firsttiming measurement related to the first base station radio pair, andreceiving a second radio resource measurement report comprising a secondtiming measurement related to the second base station radio pair.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise initiating analert in response to satisfying a rule related to the first likelihoodthe suspect radio comprises an unstable radio oscillator.
 10. The systemof claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving typeinformation indicating a type of mobile device employed in capturing aportion of the information related to the base station radio pairs, andwherein the determining the first likelihood that the suspect radio ofthe base station radio pairs comprises the unstable radio oscillator isfurther based on the type of mobile device used to capture the portionof the information.
 11. A method, comprising: receiving, by a systemcomprising a processor, information comprising time informationassociated with at least three base station radios; and determining, bythe system, a likelihood that a suspect radio of the at least three basestation radios comprises an unstable radio oscillator in response toanother base station radio of the at least three base station radiosbeing determined to satisfy a rule related to the other base stationradio being stable when not paired with the suspect radio and beingunstable when paired with the suspect radio.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the receiving the information comprises receiving a reportcomprising a timing measurement and a primary scrambling code associatedwith a base station radio of the at least three base station radios, andwherein the timing measurement and the primary scrambling code aredetermined by a mobile device.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein thereport further comprises radio model identification information for aradio of the mobile device, and wherein the determining the likelihoodthat the suspect radio of the at least three base station radioscomprises the unstable radio oscillator is further based on informationrelated to the radio model derived from the radio model identificationinformation.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising, initiatingan alert in response to the likelihood being determined to satisfyanother rule related to a level of confidence that a radio oscillator isunstable.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving informationcomprises receiving a time value used to determine an observed timedifference for a base station radio pair of the at least three basestation radios.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:determining, by the system, that the time value associated with thedetermining the observed time difference is an anomalous timingmeasurement; and flagging, by the system, the time value as anomalous torestrict use of the time value in the determining the likelihood thatthe suspect radio comprises the unstable radio oscillator.
 17. Anon-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performanceof operations, comprising: receiving information captured by a mobiledevice, wherein the information comprises time information associatedwith base station radios comprising a first, second, and third basestation radio; and determining a likelihood that a suspect radio of thebase station radios comprises an underperforming radio oscillator inresponse to another base station radio of the base station radios beingdetermined to be stable when not paired with the suspect radio and to beunstable when paired with the suspect radio.
 18. The machine-readablestorage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:receiving a primary scrambling code for the first base station radio;and determining a pair of the base station radios comprising the firstbase station radio based on the primary scrambling code and acorresponding location for the first base station radio.
 19. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: determining a radio type of a radio of the mobiledevice in response to receiving an international mobile subscriberidentity associated with the mobile device; and wherein the determiningthe likelihood that the suspect radio of the base station radioscomprises the underperforming radio oscillator is further based on theradio type.
 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, whereinthe operations further comprise: in response to determining the timeinformation comprises an outlier time value, ignoring the outlier timevalue in the determining the likelihood that the suspect radio of thebase station radios comprises the underperforming radio oscillator.